The Nets aren’t sure if forward Cameron Johnson will be available for Sunday’s matchup in Oklahoma City, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Brooklyn has gone 0-9 this season without Johnson, who is officially listed as questionable for the contest as he continues to deal with a right ankle sprain that has kept him on the sidelines for seven of the past eight games.
“It’s too early [to know] right now,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said about Johnson’s availability for Sunday. “He’s doing a great job with trying to get healthy and working every day and being around with the group.
“And that’s what we value the most, is his energy, his voice right now. And he still was doing his job [every] morning, and right now there’s no reason why we should make a decision, right? We want all our guys to be 100 percent healthy, to come back, and whenever the time comes, we will make a decision.”
According to Lewis, Johnson is the “most coveted player on the trade market right now,” but it’s certainly not a lock that he’ll be on the move by the February 6 deadline. Sources tell Lewis the Nets are reluctant to part with Johnson unless they receive two first-round picks or the equivalent in return, suggesting a talented young player on a team-friendly contract could be used in place of one of those first-rounders.
Here’s more on the Nets:
- Fourth-year forward Ziaire Williams has drastically improved his outside shot of late, Lewis writes in another story for The Post. In his first 21 games prior to missing 12 contests with a knee injury, Williams had converted just 27.3% of his three-point attempts. However, in the nine games since he returned from the injury, he has converted an impressive 40.8% from long distance on significantly higher volume. “Yeah, man, shoot, they tell me constantly shoot, shoot, shoot,” said Williams, who will be eligible for restricted free agency in the summer. “So, I’ve got to be the one to believe in myself. And yes, it’s good out there. It feels good right now. And I’m just trying to just stay in this rhythm.”
- Tosan Evbuomwan inked a two-way contract with Brooklyn at the beginning of the month and has impressed in a regular rotation role off the bench, Lewis adds. The second-year forward has averaged 12.8 points and 4.5 rebounds on .583/.375/.789 shooting over the past six games (24.8 minutes), scoring in double figures in five of those contests.
- Kyrie Irving continues to sarcastically criticize the Nets nearly two years after he was traded to Dallas, according to Lewis. “Best trade in the business, baby. We won that trade!” Irving said Friday night after the Mavericks beat the Thunder, 106-98, then repeated for emphasis, “We won that trade! I was bad goods.”
- In case you missed it, we passed along several other Johnson rumors yesterday from NBA insider Jake Fischer.
“Kyrie Irving and Markieff Morris to the Dallas Mavericks for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2027 2nd round draft pick, a 2029 1st round draft pick and a 2029 2nd round draft pick. Brooklyn also received trade exceptions 2027 2nd-rd pick is DAL own 2029 1st-rd pick is DAL own 2029 2nd-rd pick is DAL own.”
How is this a win for Dallas? Kyrie caused that trade to happen to begin with?
Kyrie gotta rival Pedro Guerrero for dumbest athlete of all-time.
Ironically, Kyrie doing the exact thing that got him into trouble in the first place. Some people never learn.
Davey – Dallas won this trade, hands down. Nobody in basketball would say otherwise.
In the end, Brooklyn got 1 first-round pick and a bunch of seconds for top 15 player. That’s called losing.
Sure, Kyrie screwed the Nets by forcing them to trade him, but that doesn’t change the reality.
I disagree, the Nets could have lost Kyrie for nothing and the market for him at the time wasnt great due to all his controversies. And until the Mavs win a championship, I am not calling this a win for them either.
Agreed Brabo…
It’s no different to the Heat getting anything for Butler now…
Mavs have to win a title with Luka, and if they don’t during the Kyrie era it’s a wasted opportunity…
Most people probably can’t see it but Brooklyn are in a really good position going into the trade deadline. They have loads of expiring deals, they have a player lots of teams want in Cam Johnson, and the have a bunch of future firsts including 4 in this years draft.
On the court they aren’t bad enough to be in the Cooper Flagg conversation unless they start tanking and they are probably abit to far away from a play in spot. Which isn’t an ideal spot to be but still I’m really hoping for some moves from them.
I think a really good buy low option could be going in for Zion Williamson. Give up your two worst first round picks this year which are both projected around 25th, and an expiring deal like Ben Simmons or Bojan and Melton.
I like Cam Johnson and Cam Thomas but I don’t think either guy have face of the franchise potential but a guy like Zion definitely does. Obviously he comes with his own problems but I think at a minimum having a guy to try build around is a step in the right direction. After that you can decide to trade Cam and get back picks, or maybe you keep him to play second fiddle to Zion in which case he is a good defender and excellent shooter. Same with Cam Thomas being a free agent, having Zion means you don’t need to pay over to keep him and hope he works out.
You could still decide to tank for Cooper/Harper/Bailey if you wanted or could try make a late play in/play off push which wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
I also think it would be good to see them add a young back up point guard like a Marcus Sasser, Bones Hyland or someone like that not getting many minutes but who could be a long term piece, especially with Dlo on an expiring deal and often being injured.
It makes no sense for NOLA to trade Zion unless it is a huge package. He has a great contract team wise and when he plays they are really good. So unless the Nets are offering an excellent package, I dont see why they would do this.
Because he never plays, cause they are in the peak of his, Ingrams, Murray’s career and they are one of the worst teams in the league. Cause they want to move one from being this mediocre team. Cause they want to start fresh again.
Plus it’s not like they’d be getting nothing in return I said, 2 first room picks and valuable expring contracts.
If you seen my comment of the JaVonte Green trade rumours you’d see I’ve already got a “what I would do” type plan for the pelicans.
Get picks for Zion, picks for Herb, any positive return for Ingram, build around Trey, keep Murray, drop CJ into a sixth man role and tank for Cooper
Tosan was an interesting prospect at Princeton. Nice to see him succeeding at the next level. Too bad the Clippers didn’t have a spot for him.